GB2221196A - Writing or drawing board - Google Patents

Abstract

A board (2) for writing or drawing has a harness comprising straps (20) on which the board may be suspended from a users body. The board is adapted to be supported with an edge against the user's body, the one edge (12) is particularly adapted for the user's comfort in this respect. Provision is also made for a cover to selectively protect the drawing or writing surface (4) of the board. <IMAGE>

Description

WRITING AND DRAWING BOARDS This invention relates to drawing or writing surfaces such as drawing boards which are primarily for use by engineers for technical drawings, but which also have more general application. Particularly, the invention relates to the use of writing surfaces or drawing boards outside of the home, office or a technical drawing office.

Plain desks have traditionally been used for writing and drawing purposes, and are particularly adapted for in situ use. A desk may be a piece of furniture or part of a larger unit in the home or office. Plain boards have traditionally been used for drawing purposes, but in modern drawing offices they too are particularly adapted for in situ use and may be part of a piece of furniture which is free-standing or a fixture in the drawing office.

Provision can be made for adjusting the inclination of the desk surface or board to the preference of the user, for storage of equipment, and for the temporary securement of paper thereto. The present invention is directed particularly at the provision of a writing surface or drawing board which can be readily used externally of the home or office, but which also offers the possibility of incorporating such additional features.

In its broadest aspect, the present invention provides a board in combination with a supporting harness or strap whereby the board can be supported from and against a user's body with the hands and arms of the user free to work on a document mounted on the board. The harness or strap will normally be formed from a flexible material, and in such a manner that it can be adjustable for use by people of different sizes. Typically the harness or strap is made from one or more strips of flexible material such as leather, fabric or a plastics material. Flexible webbing can conveniently be used.

Alternatively, the harness could be a flexible structure comprising substantially inflexible components, although this would not normally be recommended. There may though, be circumstances when a rather more rigid supporting mechanism is required, and provision may be made for the board to be additionally supported against the user's body, either by reinforcing the flexible harness or strap, or otherwise adapting the board to have additional supporting components for engagement with the user's body.

In use, one edge of the board will be directly or indirectly supported against the user's body. In order to enable this support to be provided with minimal discomfort to the user while imparting maximum stability to the board, one edge of a board according to the invention is preferably adapted to be conformable to an user's body. Conveniently, this is accomplished by extending two opposite sides of the board and suspending a flexible strip of material between the free ends so created. Thus, in use the flexible strip is against the user's body and will adapt accordingly. This arrangement has the additional advantage of distancing the board surface from the user's body to a better position for working on a document mounted thereon.In an alternative, the respective edge of the board may be specifically shaped such that it rests comfortably against the user's body, or formed in a plastics material which will so conform when the board is used. In a further alternative, provision may merely be made on the board for attaching a conformable or conformed member thereto, which member can be attached prior to the board being put to use in external environment. Where the supporting harness or strap is also removable, the board is also suitable for use in the traditional manner in the drawing office.

Boards according to the invention can of course readily be shaped to provide for the temporary storage of equipment, and similarly the temporary securement of writing or drawing paper thereto. Further, the board may be provided with a cover, normally a flexible cover suspended from the board such that it can be readily moved into position over a drawing on the board to protect it from the ambient conditions. A rail can be provided from which such a cover is suspended, and this can conveniently be disposed at the edge of the board opposite from that which is supported against the user's body. Alternatively, a flexible cover may be provided for removable insertion into an appropriately shaped groove formed in the board.

A cover can of course also protect equipment stored on or in the board, and such cover is of particular use not only when the board is being used in the open, but also in industrial and other environments where particulate or other matter in the air might be deposited on the user's work.

Where the board includes a rail or other device for supporting a cover, such a rail can of course also serve as a handle for carrying the board. A separate handle may of course be provided for this purpose whether or not the board is equipped with a cover.

A drawing board embodying the invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a drawing board according to the invention; Figure 2 is a bottom perspective view of the drawing board of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a top plan view of the board shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Shown in Figure 1, the drawing board 2 presents a flat surface 4 upon which may be mounted a sheet 6 of drawing paper. The sheet 6 is held against the board by spring clips 8 of a kind which are well known in the art.

The board is of overall rectangular shape, and at one edge the sides have extensions 10 between which a flexible strip 12 is freely suspended. Adjacent the opposite edge the board 2 is formed with recesses 14 and 16 for the storage of drawing equipment such as pens, pencils and erasers. The sides are also extended at this edge to form projections 18, the function of which is described below.

At the distal ends of extensions 10 and projections 18 are secured the ends of two straps 20, each strap extending from one extension 10 to the projection 18 at the opposite corner. The ends of the straps 20, and indeed of the strip 12 may be simply secured by means of rivets or bolts. Normally, one end of each strap 20 will be secured via a loop or ring, and each strap will have a buckle 22 which will enable each strap 20 to pass through the loop or ring and be secured to itself in a manner which enables the individual length of each strap 20 to be adjusted.

A drawing board according to the invention is conveniently moulded from a plastics material, and Figure 2 shows how the underside of the board may be shaped to minimise the weight of the board while providing it with sufficient rigidity for drawing to be usefully conducted thereon. As shown in Figure 2, the area 4 of the board is defined within a rectangular surround formed by beams 24, and reinforced by diagonal struts 26 extending from each corner to a circular moulding 28 substantially centrally thereof. The working surface area 4 is thus a relatively thin sheet of plastics material integrally moulded against the beams 24, the strut 26 and the circular moulding 28.

The shape of the recesses 14 and 16 is also apparent from Figure 2, and it will be readily appreciated that the entire board, apart from the strip 12 and the straps 20 - can be moulded as a single unit.

Figure 3 shows a top plan view of the board of Figures 1 and 2, but adapted to include a rail 30 from which may be suspended a cover which may be swung over the board when it is not in use to protect any drawing and drawing equipment from the environmental conditions. The cover will normally be flexible, but substantially rigid covers can be used by suitable modification of the board itself and/or the cover to ensure that it properly fits over the board. For example, a rigid cover may be articulated proximate the rail 30 such that it may be readily pivoted from a position over the board to and opposite orientation where it is disposed against the under surface of the board while a drawing is being made or adapted without interfering with other activities. A suitable clip may be provided to retain such a cover in a stowed position under the board.

The above described embodiment of the invention is given by way of example only, and numerous variations may be made thereto, some of which are discussed above.

Particularly, it will be appreciated that the extensions 10 may be modified or replaced by a different structure which provides equivalent conformable support for a board against a user's body, and that the projections 18 can likewise be adapted to provide a different form of support for a cover as described above, or in some cases omitted altogether. The attachment of the straps 20 can of course be accomplished by a variety of mechanisms, and while the extensions 10 and projections 18 facilitate such attachment, they can readily be secured at other positions on the board.

In the use of a board according to the invention, the straps 20 will normally be slung over the user's head, and adjusted such that the board when suspended therefrom and supported against the user's body adopts the proper inclination relative thereto. The cover, if employed, is then removed, and the board is ready for use.

From the above description, it will be appreciated that the board may function effectively as a portable desk or writing surface that can be used for a variety of purposes including writing, sketching, general note-taking and even three-dimensional artwork, as well as technical draughtsmanship which is particularly contemplated.

Claims (16)

1. A board for writing or drawing in combination with a supporting harness upon which to suspend the board from a user's body.

2. A board according to Claim 1 wherein the harness is flexible.

3. A board according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the harness is adjustable.

4. A harness according to any preceding Claim including means for supporting an edge of the board against a user's body.

5. A board according to Claim 4 wherein the supporting means is operative to distance the board from said user's body.

6. A board according to Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the supporting means comprises a flexible strip suspended between extensions from two opposite sides of the board.

7. A board according to Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the supporting means comprises a shaped component at an edge of the board.

8. A board according to Claim 7 wherein the component is a conformable member attached to the board edge.

9. A board according to any preceding Claim wherein at least the harness is detachable from the board.

10. A board according to any preceding Claim including storage facilities for ancillary equipment.

11. A board according to any preceding Claim including a cover for selectively protecting the working surface of the board.

12. A board according to Claim 11 including a rail from which the cover is suspended.

13. A board according to Claim 11 wherein the cover is mounted in a groove formed in the board.

14. A board according to any of Claims 11 to 13 wherein the cover is removably attached to the board.

15. A board according to any preceding Claim including a handle for carrying the board.

16. A board for writing or drawing substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.